Section links

Happy Families poster

There are more photos from this production below. Selecting any of the small thumbnail images will show a larger version of the picture in the main part of the page. »

Happy Families by John Godber - Vic

- Derby Playhouse. Directed by Mark Chatterton.

This play was rehearsed underneath Richard III (i.e. rehearsed during the day while Richard was being performed in the evenings). It was nice to be involved in a comedy after the intensity of Richard, and to have a really good part to sink my teeth into after the slightly disappointingly small role of Catesby in the Shakepeare.

"Happy Families" is one of Godber's autobiographical plays, very funny but also containing some very bitter-sweet moments along the way. Godber himself came to see the play one night - Derby Playhouse under Marc Clements having a very warm relationship with the author. It was slightly daunting to know that I was effectively playing his Dad with him in the audience, albeit his own version of his Dad! Still, he was quite kind in a rather non-demonstrative way.

Director Mark Chatterton did a great job orchestrating the many family arguments and his choice of incidental music was spot on - I can still remember waiting in the wings for our first entrance with Sinatra's rendition of 'Fly Me To The Moon' building in volume on the front-of-house speakers. All in all a very enjoyable job!

"The play is brilliantly brought to life by a first-rate cast..."

Picture 2

Picture 3